Combined stencil-moistening and stencil-blotting apparatus



Patented Nov. 3, 1953 orr cs COMBINED STENCIL-MOISTENING ANDSTENCIL-BLOTTING APPARATUS Harmon P. Elliott, Watertown, Mass.Application August 18, 1952, Serial No. 304,993 r Claims. (01. 118-109)This invention relates to improvements in sten cil-moistening apparatusand more particularly to apparatus for moistening the tissue panels ofprinting stencils preparatory to forming the printing characters of aname and address, or other information, in the stencil tissues.

Names and addresses, or other information, which are to be borne by thetissue panels of printing stencils of the general variety employed inaddressing machines and other business and statistical machines, areformed in the tissues by a typist who operates the conventional keys ofa typewriter equipped with special means for holding a stencil. However,it is essential that each stencil tissue be preliminarily moistened sothat the printing characters of the typewriter may be effectively cut orimpressed in the stencil tissues. Ordinarily, the tissues have athin-film thereon and the printing characters are formed in the filmwhile the latter is in a moist condition.

The stencil tissues may be moistened in various ways, such as bypressing a wettedwick against each tissue panel and maintaining them incontact for a suitable interval of time to enable the moisture to softenthe tissue film, before the typist inserts any particular stencil in thetypewriter. But, it is important to avoid excesses of surface moistureon the tissue panels. Otherwise, gumming of the type characters of thetypewriter will occur after relatively short periods of use of thetypewriter, and the excesses of moisture have other objectionable anddeteriorating effects upon the typing mechanism.

In my Patent No. 2,584,683, dated February 5, 1952, there is disclosed acombined stencilmoistening and stencil-blotting apparatus whereinexcesses of surface moisture on stencil panel tissue are removed priorto delivery of each moistened. stencil to a pick-off position from whichthe typist removes it for insertion in a typewriter. The mentionedpatented apparatus accomplishes its purpose efliciently and effectivelybut is relatively expensive.

It is among the objects of my present invention to provide a simplifiedrelatively low-cost combined stencil-moistening and stencil-blottingapparatus which effectively moistens stencil tissues and whicheffectively removes excess surface moisture from each moistened stencilprior to its arrival at a pick-off position.

Another object of my present invention'is to provide a combinedstencil-moistening and stencil-blotting apparatus which may besubstantially reduced in size as compared with my mentioned patentedapparatus, and which is more readily and conveniently actuatable by atypist to advance moistened and blotted stencils in succession to a picl-ofi position.

A further object of the invention is to provide acombined.stencil-moistening and stencilblottin apparatus wherein amoistening wick and a blotter are maintained by gravity in contact withthe tissue panels of successive stencils at intervals between manualadvances of successive stencils to a pick-oil position, each advance ofstencils being automatically preceded by a lifting of the stencils clearof the wick and blotter and being followedby an automatic return of themanually actuated advancing means.

Itis moreover, my purpose'and object generally to improve the structureandefiectiveness of combined stencil-moistening and stencil-blottingapparatus and more especially such apparatus of the readily portablevariety suitable for use by a typist engaged in forming printingcharacters in the tissues of stencils by means of a typewriter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a combined stencil moistening andstencil-blotting apparatus embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2, looking atthat end which is to the left in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of line i i of Fig. 1, on a largerscale, with a portion of the blotting member shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on line E5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the stencil-receiving end portions of the twostencil tracks, and showing the stencil pusher member mounted slidablyon one of the tracks; and

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the upper portions of the apparatusshowing the stencil tracks and the stencils therein spaced above themoistening wick and blotter in the process of advancing the stencilsalong the tracks.

Referring to the drawings, a rectangular base container [0 may beequipped with the feet E2, of rubber or the like, for engaging the topof a desk or table or other support, on which the appa ratus may beresting. The upper open side of container I0 is partially closed by acover member indicated generally at M which includes the two forwardlyprojecting parallel arms it at opposite ends of the container, each ofwhich has an upstanding flange l8 extending throughout its length andextending integrally rearward along the cover member [4 to the rear sideof container H] where the cover member is hinged to posts 20 fixed tothe opposite end walls of container H], a pivot screw 22 passing througheach post 28 and the adjacent flange l8 whereby the cover member i4 maybe swung about the pivotal axis of the pivot screws 22.

Two guide rails or tracks 24, 26 are secured as by screws 28, to theunder sides of arms 16 of cover member M, the tracks extending in spacedparallelism from end to end of the container l8, and each track having agroove 30 in its edge which is toward the other track whereby therelatively rigid frame portions of stencils 32 may be slidably engagedin the edge grooves of the tracks and be pushed along the tracks withthe tissue panels 33 of the stencils disposed between the tracks.

A conventional type of stencil holder 34 is secured to the tracks 24,26, as by screws 36, and the holder 34 is located at the left hand endportions of the tracks in Figs. 1 and 2, and is adapted to contain astack S of stencils with the lowermost stencil of the stack resting onthe tracks. Each track 24, 26 has the upper wall of its edge groove cutaway at 38 where the tracks extend under the holder 34, so that thelowermost stencil in stack S rests on the lower walls of the edgegrooves as best seen in Fig. 6. Hence, this lowermost stencil is inposition to be pushed along the tracks, to the right in Figs. 1 and 6,when a pusher member 40 is actuated to the right along track 24.

A stencil-moistening wick 42 is mounted within container IE1 beneath thestack S of stencils, the wick being at a suitable elevation and ofsuitable shape, to contact substantially the entire area of the tissuepanel 33 of that stencil which at any time is the lowermost stencil ofthe stack S, with gravity acting on the lowermost stencil in a manner tokeep its tissue panel 32 pressed against wick 42. As shown, the wick 42is a piece of sheet material draped over a support 44 which hasgenerally the shape of the tissue panel 33, with the depending portionsof the draped wick immersed in water, or other liquid, held in suitablequantity within a receptacle 48 which may be fixed within container illbut which, preferably, is removably supported in a retainer 48 rigidlysupported at a proper elevation by means of legs Ed. The wick may be asheet of sheepskin or other material having the property of conductingmoisture from receptacle 45 to a stencil panel by capillary action.

According to the invention, each lowermost stencil 32 in stack S isfirst moistened by Wick 42 and then is pushed along tracks 24, 28 to ablotting station at which excess surface moisture is removed from itstissue panel 33 by a blotting member indicated generally at 52 in Figs.4 and 5. Blotting member 52 may be of any suitably moisture absorbentmaterial which, when pressed against the moistened tissue panel of astencil,

will absorb any excesses of surface moisture on the panel prior to itsadvance along tracks 24, 26 to a pick-off position in which it projectssubstantially beyond the right hand ends of the tracks. The stencil 32furthest to the right in Fig. l is in the pick-off position ready to beremoved by a typist and inserted in a typewriter, with its tissue panel33 thoroughly moistened but free of any excess surface moisture.

The blotting member 52 is herein shown as a sheet of moisture absorbentmaterial wrapped around a support 54 having four right angularly relatedplane sides, each having generally the shape and size of a stencil panel33. The support 54 is rotatably mounted on uprights 55 within containerIi; so that a ninety degree rotation of support 5 will present a freshand relatively dry portion of blotting member 52 for blotting contactwith a tissue panel of a stencil in the blotting position with gravityacting to maintain the stencil tissue in contact with blotting member 52so long as cover member id is in its lowermost position. A knob 58 onone end of support 54 facilitates rotation of the blotting member 52,and a spring-pressed ball til is resiliently biased against a plate 62on the support 54 and engages in detents E4 in plate 62 to yieldablyretain the blotting member 52 in any one of its four operativepositions.

Pusher member 46 is slidably mounted on track 24 with a rearwardlyextending part 42' providing a shoulder 40* for engaging back of theadjacent edge of the lowermost stencil in stack S for carrying thislowermost stencil to the right along the tracks when pusher member 43 isactuated to the right from its position of Figs. 1, 2 and 6. Anupstanding arm 4t is rigid on pusher member 49, and a relatively longrod 53 has one end fixed to arm 49 and extends therefrom, to the rightin Figs. 1, 2 and 6, in general parallelism with the tracks 24, 26. Theright hand end of rod 66 has a stop collar 68 fixed thereon for engaginga bracket '52 through which the rod slidably extends, the bracket beingsecured to track 24 as by screws i2. A long coiled spring 74 is mountedon rod 65 with one of its ends engaging bracket iii and its other endengaging arm 4t or the means securing the rod to arm 48 whereby thespring constantly biases pusher member 48 to its position of Figs. 1, 2and 6, with collar t8 stopped against bracket 70. A movement of pushermember 40 to the right from its position of Figs. 1, 2 and 6 compressesspring 14 and pushes the lowermost stencil in stack S to the blottingposition along tracks 24, 26 and this lowermost stencil pushes thestencil which was in the blotting position to the pick-off position. Aforwardly projecting handle 76 on arm 49 of the pusher member 40facilitates manual movements of the latter to the right. When handle itis released after an actuation of pusher member ac to the right, spring14 restores the pusher member 40 to its position of Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

However, as pusher member 40 is actuated to push stencils along tracks24, 28, it is essential that the stencils in the moistening and blottingpositions be lifted clear of the wick 42 and blotting member 52. Aroller 18 carried on pusher member 45 engages an inclined cammingportion 86' of a rail 80 which is secured along the top margin of thefront wall of container Iii, interiorly of the container. The initialtravel of pusher member 48 to the right in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 causesroller I8 to ride up the incline of camming portion 80 thereby to raisethe pusher member 49 with a resulting up-swinging of cover member 14about the axis of pivot screws 22. The tracks 24, 26 and the stencilstherein ar simultaneously carried upward to provide clearance forpassage of the stencils along the tracks in spaced relation to the wick42 and blotting member 52, as the pusher member 40 continues its travelto the right in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 with its roller 18 riding on thehorizontal rail 88. The tracks and stencils continue elevated while thepusher member is being returned by spring 14 along the horizontal rail80, dropping by gravity as the roller 28 rides down the incline ofcamming portion 30 to bring the tissue panels of stencils which now arein moistening and blotting positions into contact with wick 32 andblotting member 52, respectively.

In use or" the disclosed apparatus, the typ-ist picks a stencil from thepick-off position and, after inserting it in her typewriter, formsdesired printing characters on the tissue panel in the conventionalmanner. Meanwhile a moistened stencil will be in the blotting positionand the lowermost stencil in stack S will be in contact with Wick 52.When the typist is ready for another stencil, she merely actuateshandle-16 to the right from its position of Figs. 1, 2 and 6, to advancethe blotted stencil to pick-ofi position and the newly moistened stenciltoblotting position. A stop 82 limits the travel of pusher member 4% tothe right along track 24 to stop the pusher with its portion air underthe right hand marginal portion of the stencil'which will have becomethe lowermost stencil in the stack, so that the pusher can move back tothe left without obstructing interference from the said lowermoststencil in the stack.

A resilient clamp 84 may be provided on one of the tracks forresiliently engaging each stencil in the pick-off position thereby tocontrol the movements of the stencils.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression inthe appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist inthe invention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for moistening stencils, a pair of tracks forslidably supporting a succession of stencils and along whichthe'stencils are movable from a stencil-moistening position to astencil-blotting position and thence to a pick-off position, a stencilholder secured to and above said tracks and adapted to hold a stack ofstencils with the lowermost stencil in the stack resting on the tracksat said stencil-moistening position, a stencil-moistenin elementsupported at said stencil-moistening position and engaging the underside of said lowermost stencil in the stack, a stencil-blotting elementsupported in said stencil-blotting position and engaging the under sideof a stencil in said stencil-blotting position along said tracks, pushermeans for advancing a said lowermost stencil in the stack along saidtracks from said stencil-moistening position to said stencil-blottingposition and for simultaneously advancing a stencil from saidstencilblotting position to said pick-off position, a stop for limitingeach said stencil-advancing movement of the pusher, said stop beinglocated to stop the pusher with a portion thereof under the stencilwhich will have become the lowermost stencil in the stack, meanssupporting said pair of tracks for upward movement away from saidstencil-moistening and stencil-blotting elements, and mechanismresponsive to a said stencil-advancing movement of said pusher means forrai ing said tracks and the stencils thereon away from saidstencil-moistening and stencil-blotting elements.

2. In an apparatus for moistening stencils, a pair of tracks forslidably supporting a succession of stencils and along which thestencils are movable from a stencil-moistening position to astencil-blotting position and thence to a pick-off position, a stencilholder secured to and above said tracks and adapted to hold a stack ofstencils with the lowermost stencil in the stack resting on the tracksat said stencil-moistening position, a stencil-moistening elementsupported at said stencil-moistening position and engaging the underside of said lowermost stencil in the stack, a stencil-blotting elementsupported in said stencil-blotting position and engaging the under sideof a stencil in said stencil-blotting position along said tracks, pushermeans slidably mounted on one of said tracks and adapted to engage backof an edge of said lowermost stencil in the stack' whereby a movement ofthe pusher means along its track pushes said lowermost stencil in thestack along the tracks to said stencil-blotting position and the stencilwhich was in the stencil-blotting position is simultaneously pushedalong the tracks to said pick-0d position, a stop for stopping a saidmovement of the pusher while a portion of the pusher is under thestencil which will have become the lowermost stencil in the stack,resilient means constantly biasing said pusher means to its positionengaging back of an edge of the lowermost stencil-in the stack andadapted to return the pusher means following each stencil-pushingmovement thereof, means supporting said pair of tracks for upwardmovement away from said stencil-moistening and stencil-blottingelements, and mechanism responsive to each stencil pushing movement ofthe pusher means for raising said tracks and the stencils thereon awayfrom said stencilmoistening and stencil-blotting elements.

3. Apparatus for moistening stencils, comprising a support, a memberpivotally mounted on the support including a pair of rigid armsextending in spaced relation in directions away from the pivotal axis ofsaid member, a pair of spaced and parallel tracks secured to said rigidarms and extending between the arms, a stencil holder secured to saidtracks and adapted to hold a stack of stencils above the tracks with thelowermost stencil in the stack resting on the tracks at astencil-moistening position, pusher means operable to push saidlowermost stencil in the stack along said tracks to a stencil-blottingposition with simultaneous advance of other stencils along the tracks, astop for stopping 'a said movement of the pusher while a portion of thepusher is under the stencil which will have become the lowermost stencilin the stack, a stencilmoistening element on said support at saidstencil moistening position, a stencil-blotting element on said supportat said stencil-blotting position, said pivotally mounted member tendingby gravity about its-pivot in direction to maintain said lowermoststencil in the stack in contact with said stencil-moistening element,and to maintain a stencil in said stencil blotting position in contactwith said stencil-blotting element, manual means on said pusher meansfor moving it in direction to push said stencils along the tracks, andcam means on said support for lifting said pivoted member about'itspivot in response to a stencil-pushing movement of said pushermeans, thereby to elevate said stencils above said stencil-moisteningand stencil-blotting elements when said stencils are pushed along thetracks.

4. In a stencil-moistening apparatus, a pair of tracks along whichstencils may be moved in succession from a stencil-moistening positionto a stencil-blotting position and thence to a pickoff position, astencil holder secured to said tracks at the stencil moistening positionand holding a. stack of stencils above the tracks with the lowermoststencil in the stack resting on the tracks,- pusher means manuallyoperable to push said said stencil-moistening position and adapted toengage the under side of said lowermost stencil in the stack, astencil-blotting element supported at said stencil-blotting position andadapted to engage the under side of the stencil which is in saidstencil-blotting position, means supporting said pair of tracks forupward movement away from said stencil-moistening and stencilblottingelements, and cam means responsive to a stencil-pushing movement of saidpusher means for raising said tracks and stencils away from saidstencil-moistening and stencil-blotting elements to provide clearancespace for the movements of said pusher means and stencils.

5.1n a stencil-moistening apparatus having a stencil-moistening elementfor engaging and moistening stencils arriving in intermittent successionat a stencil-moistening position, means for removing excess surfacemoisture from each said. moistened. stencil, comprising astencil-blotting member adjacent to said stencil-moistening element andhaving a plurality of stencil-:blotting surface portions, meansrotatably supporting said stencil-blotting member at a stencilblottingposition whereby different stencil-blotting surface portions thereof maybe moved selectively into stencil-blotting relation to a stenoil in saidstencil-blotting position, manually operable means for moving eachmoistened stencil from said stencil-moistening position into blottingcoaction with said stencil-blotting member at said stencil-blottingposition, means supporting all of the stencils for upward movement awayfrom said stencil-moistening element and said stencil-blotting member,and mechanism respone sive to each manual movement of said manuallyoperable means for raising all of the stencils an appreciable distanceabove said stencihmoistening element and said stencil-blotting memberwhile a stencil is being moved from said stencilmoistening position tosaid stencil-blotting position.

6. In a stencil-moistening apparatus having a stencil-moistening elementfor engaging and moistening stencils arriving in intermittent successionat stencil-moistening position, means for removing excess surfacemoisture from each said moistened stencil, comprising a stencil-blottingmember adjacent to said stencil-moistening element and having aplurality of stencil-blotting surface portions, means rotatablysupporting said stencil blotting member at a stencilblotting positionwhereby different stencil-blot ting surface portions thereof may bemoved selectively into stencil-blotting relation to a stencil in saidstencil-blotting position, manually operable means for moving eachmoistened stencil from said stencil-mo'istenin-g position into blotting'coaction with said stencil-blotting member at said stencil-blottingposition, means supporting all of the stencils for upward movement awayfrom said stencil-moistening element and said stencil-blotting member,mechanism responsive to each manual movement of said manually operablemeans for raising all of the stencils an appreciable distance above saidstencil-moistening element and said stencil-blotting member duringmovements of said stencils, and resilient means operative to restore themanually operable means to its original position following each manualoperation thereof.

7. A stencil-moistening apparatus, comprising a base container open atits upper side, a member pivotally mounted on said base container, apair of spaced and parallel tracks secured to said member, a stencilholder mounted on said tracks and adapted to hold a stack of stencilsabove the tracks with the lowermost stencil in the stack resting on thetracks at a stencil-moistening position, pusher means slidable on one ofsaid tracks for pushing said lowermost stencil along the tracks fromsaid stencil-moistenin-g position to a stencil-blotting position, astenoil which was in the stencil-blotting position being simultaneouslypushed along the tracks to a pick-01f position, a stop for stopping asaid movement of the pusher means while a portion thereof is under thestencil which will have become the lowermost stencil in the stack, astencil-moistening element supported within said base container andadapted to be engaged by said lowermost stencil in the stack, astencil-blotting element supported within said base container andadapted to be engaged by the stencil in said stencil-blotting positionalong the tracks, said pivotally mounted member tending by gravity aboutits pivot in direction to maintain said stencils pressed against thestencil-moistening and stencil-blotting elements, a handleon said pushermeans for manual actuation of the pusher means in stencil-pushingdirection along said tracks, cam means on said base container responsiveto a said manual actuation of said pusher means for raising saidpivotally mounted member, about its pivot to lift said stencils awayfrom the stencil-moistening and stencil-blotting elements duringmovements of the pusher means and stencils, and resilient means forrestoring said pusher means following each said manual actuationthereof.

HARMON P. ELLIOTT.

No references cited.

